Over the course of three months, hackers exploited a website application vulnerability to access the personal data of as many as 143. Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus, experienced a massive data breach. The infamous 2017 equifax breach not only compromised millions of citizens data, but the breach also left. Us says chinese military stole masses of americans data. In other types of data breaches like those from credit card application information at other companies, consumers have knowingly released their information. Equifax never conducted another audit after the 2015 audit and left several of the issues identified in the 2015 audit report unaddressed in the months leading up to the 2017 data breach. In september of 2017, equifax announced it experienced a data breach, which impacted the personal information of approximately 147 million people. Equifax is a global information solutions company that uses trusted unique data, innovative analytics, technology and industry expertise to power organizations and individuals around the world by transforming knowledge into insights that help make more informed business and personal decisions. The equifax data breach on september 7, 2017, equifax, one of the three main credit reporting agencies, announced a massive data security breach that exposed vital personal identification data including names, addresses, birth dates, and social security numbers on as many as 143 million consumers, roughly 55% of americans age 18 and older. Pdf a case study analysis of the equifax data breach 1 a.
What happened, who was affected, what was the impact. Equifax has established a dedicated call center at 8664477559 to answer consumers questions about the breach. Equifax and the data breach epidemic equifax is perhaps the most significant data breach in american history affecting nearly half of the united states population. Equifaxs massive 2017 data breach keeps getting worse. The data breach, which equifax announced in september 2017, ultimately affected 148 million individuals and involved the compromise of personal information including social security numbers, addresses, and credit card numbers. A case study analysis of the equifax data breach 2 a case study analysis of the equifax data breach the equifax data breach was one of the most significant cyberattacks of 2017. Equifax also began efforts to stand up a call center capability staffed by 1,500 temporary employees. Sep 11, 2017 heres what you can do about that equifax data breach. Private records of more than 140 million americans, along with some british and canadian citizens were compromised in the breach, making it one of. Prior to the breach, senior managers from equifax security teams did.
Dec 17, 2018 on december 10, 2018, the house oversight and government reform committee republicans released a report on the equifax data breach. Department of justice issued a statement concerning the indictment of individuals in connection with the theft of consumer data held by equifax in 2017. Equifax data breach settlement ftc consumer information jump to. On december 10, 2018, the house oversight and government reform committee republicans released a report on the equifax data breach. The equifax data breach a year ago disclosed nearly personal information of nearly 150 million people. From your myequifax account, you can also click get my free credit score to enroll in equifax core credit and get a free monthly equifax credit report and a free monthly vantagescore credit score based on equifax data. Hackers stole the personal data of nearly 150 million people from equifax databases in 2017. The equifax breach is unprecedented in scope and severity. Equifax, a consumer credit reporting agency ccra reported its computers were hacked, and the hackers accessed personal, identifying information of 143. How did equifax, a consumer reporting agency, respond to that event. On september 7, 2017, the company announced a cybersecurity data breach that exposed the. If you werent personally affected, chances are you know someone who was. Equifax didnt take steps to prevent a massive data breach in 2017 that allowed hackers to steal the personal information of 147. Case study equifaxs breach of trust page 1 of 4 equifaxs breach of trust equifax is one of three major consumer credit reporting agencies in the united states.
Yet, worryingly, consumers awareness of scams and how to. Included among files accessed by hackers was a treasure trove of personal data. Doj announces indictment of 4 chinese military hackers attorney general william barr announced the indictment of the hackers responsible for the equifax cyber breach. D and strengthen the ability of the federal trade commission ftc to levy civil penalties for private sector violations of consumer data security requirements. Feb 11, 2020 doj announces indictment of 4 chinese military hackers attorney general william barr announced the indictment of the hackers responsible for the equifax cyber breach. Equifax breach consumer alert what you need to know about the equifax breach in the news. If the equifax breach was a purely criminal act, one would expect at least some of the stolen data, especially the credit card numbers that were taken, to have showed up for sale on the black.
Pdf a case study analysis of the equifax data breach 1 a case. The equifax data breach occurred between may and july 2017 at the american credit bureau equifax. Sep 08, 2017 if you have a credit report, theres a good chance that youre one of the 143 million american consumers whose sensitive personal information was exposed in a data breach at equifax, one of the nations three major credit reporting agencies. Equifax data breach settlement ftc consumer information jump to navigation. Aug 30, 2018 hackers stole the personal data of nearly 150 million people from equifax databases in 2017. Equifax data breach consumer information new mexico attorney. On september 4, equifax and mandiant completed a list of 143 million consumers affected by the data breach, a number that would later grow to 148 million. Criminals gained access to equifaxs database from midmay through july 2017. Third parties use many different types of credit scores and will not use the equifax 3bureau credit scores to assess your creditworthiness.
On march 7, 2017, a critical vulnerability in the apache struts software was publicly disclosed. Equifax data breach consumer information why is equifax unique among data breaches. In other types of data breaches like those from credit. An analysis of target data breach and lessons learned xiaokui shu, ke tian, andrew ciambrone and danfeng daphne yao, member, ieee abstractthis paper investigates and examines the events leading up to the second most devastating data breach in history. According to the report, the breach was discovered on july 29th. Equifax data breach on september 7, 2017, equifax announced that it experienced a cybersecurity breach that exposed the personal and financial data of approximately 143 million consumers. A federal court approved a class action settlement that resolves lawsuits brought by consumers after the data breach. Recent data breaches at federal agencies, retailers, hospitals, insurance companies. The credit card numbers of approximately 209,000 consumers were also breached. Equifax denied any wrongdoing and no judgment or finding of wrongdoing was made.
The case discusses the events leading up to the massive data breach at equifax, one of the three u. Reporting we will provide comprehensive reports to your organization regarding correspondence sent to customers, credit files found, and enrolment in the free credit monitoring program equifaxs corporate data breach assistance solution works to maintain customer. Sep 29, 2017 if the equifax breach was a purely criminal act, one would expect at least some of the stolen data, especially the credit card numbers that were taken, to have showed up for sale on the black. Jul 25, 2019 the us credit reporting agency equifax settled earlier this week with the federal trade commission over the massive 2017 data breach that exposed hundreds of millions of americans social. Equifax releases details on cybersecurity incident. If you have a credit report, theres a good chance that youre one of the 143 million american consumers whose sensitive personal information was exposed in a data breach at equifax, one of the nations three major credit reporting agencies. The hackers accessed peoples names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, drivers license numbers. Congressional committee slams equifax in report on data breach. The case supplement provides details of how equifax recovered from the breach and changes the company made.
House oversight committee report on equifax breach pdf. Madison equifax, one of the nations three major credit reporting agencies, reported a data breach yesterday that may affect as many as 143 million americans nearly 44% of the united states population. Pdf a case study analysis of the equifax data breach. This data breach is unique in that consumers may not be aware that equifax has their personal information. Equifax could have and should have substantially increased the amount of money it spent to protect against cyberattacks but chose not to. Oct 10, 2017 cybersecurity incident information for uk consumers. The breach impacted the social security numbers, birth dates, and addresses of 145. Breaking down the equifax data breach equifax, one of the big three credit reporting agencies, disclosed a massive data breach in a press release on sept. A case study analysis of the equifax data breach the equifax data breach was one of the most significant cyberattacks of 2017. House of representatives committee on oversight and. The us credit reporting agency equifax settled earlier this week with the federal trade commission over the massive 2017 data breach that exposed hundreds of. Equifax s thenchief executive officer, richard smith, learned of the breach on july 31 and that consumer pii maintained by equifax had likely been stolen on august 15, 2017. Equifax data breach, you may be eligible for benefits from a class action settlement a class action settlement has been proposed in a case against equifax inc.
Equifax knew and should have known that failure to maintain adequate technological safeguards would eventually result in a massive data breach. Equifax failed to take basic steps that may have prevented the breach that affected approximately 147 million consumers. The attacks effects were farreaching, affecting millions of people and multiple businesses and agencies. This settlement requires that the company take steps to improve its data security going forward, and will ensure that consumers harmed by this breach can receive help protecting themselves from identity theft and fraud. Like wannacry and petya before it, the attack on equifax. The data from the breach has yet to be seen on black markets or the dark web by. Heres what you can do about that equifax data breach. Equifax could not follow its own policies in patching the vulnerability that ultimately caused the breach. Sep 07, 2017 equifax announced the incident this afternoon. Frequently asked questions ive been hearing about the equifax breach in the news.
C establish high standards for how data breach victims should be notified. In september of 2017, equifax announced a data breach that exposed the personal informationof 147 million people. The call center is open every day including weekends from 6. Equifax is one of the three major credit reporting agencies responsible for collecting and compiling the credit history of consumers and businesses. Equifax data breach claim form settlement benefits what you may get if you are a u. Earlier this year, fico began touting its cyber risk score pdf, which seeks to measure an organizations chances of experiencing a data breach in the next 12 months, based on a variety of. Equifax was compromised and the personal information of approximately 143 million consumers was stolen. Equifax data breach you have likely heard about the recent equifax data breach, as this unfortunate event affects approximately 44% of americans. Equifax employees discovered the suspicious activity that was later determined to be a data breach on july 29, 2017.
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